Calling government to account on poverty

By Press Office

October 29, 2013

Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow, commenting on a letter from senior British church leaders calling on Welfare Minister Lord Freud to apologise for misrepresenting the poor and benefit recipients, said:

"We welcome the churches' determination to hold government and public authorities to account for the impact of their policies on the poorest and most vulnerable.

"Equally welcome and important are initiatives on social housing, credit unions and welfare which look at how the churches' resources can be used to back its message.

"Our own research and documentation of the treatment of those living at the sharp end is indicative of the harm being done to families and communities by approaches to welfare and benefits based on suspicion, punishment and stigmatisation, rather than community building and the addressing of manifest and damaging inequalities.

"Ekklesia is also backing the call for a comprehensive, cumulative, independent impact assessment of welfare changes, especially those impacting disabled people and the sick."

Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here.